Non-government organization (NGO) United Filipino Consumers and Commuters (UFCC) has taken a crucial step in response to complaints about the Cagayan de Oro Water District (COWD).
On Monday, UFCC President Rodolfo ‘RJ’ B. Javellana Jr. officially filed a petition before the Local Water Utilities Administration (LWUA) for a comprehensive audit of COWD’s management and performance.
During a Facebook livestream from the LWUA office in Quezon City, Javellana underlined the need for this audit, stressing the challenges faced by Cagayanons in accessing reliable water services despite paying hefty costs.
“We have already submitted our appeal to LWUA to subject the Cagayan de Oro Water District to an audit to ensure proper service, because we know that many Cagayanons pay high water bills, but some officials indulge in COWD profit but failed to provide quality services to them,” he emphasized.
“This letter is also addressed to our honorable President Marcos,” Javellana added.
In its manifesto, UFCC voiced deep concern for COWD consumers, particularly in light of the most recent water crisis that almost resulted in a citywide water shortage.
After Cagayan de Oro City was declared under state of emergency, the NGO said it conducted research to understand the root causes of the problem and to develop appropriate solutions to allay the concerns of water consumers in the city.
According to information UFCC gathered, a meeting between COWD and Cagayan de Oro Bulk Water Inc. (COBI), the city’s water supplier, was scheduled for April 30, 2024, to discuss addressing long-standing issues related to the water distributor’s debt to COBI.
Unfortunately, key COWD representatives, including their Board of Directors (BOD), did not show up for the meeting. Only one member of the COWD-BOD took part, which was not enough to form a quorum for critical decision-making.
“Why didn’t the COWD-BOD members show up for a very important meeting where the continued service of clean water flow to their households depends?” UFCC said, echoing the sentiments of water consumers.
The consumer group therefore urged LWUA to launch an investigation or audit of COWD’s management, especially in view of their findings indicating negligence on the part of the water district officials.
One of the concerning issues raised in the UFCC manifesto is COWD’s persistently high non-revenue water (NRW) rate, which indicates water lost due to leaks, theft, or inefficiencies.
In 2021, the distributor’s NRW was recorded at 55.39%, increasing to 50.05% in 2022, resulting in significant financial losses amounting to P765.68 million.
“The record of the very high NRW of COWD is also contrary to the long-standing order of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. where the importance of efficient use and conservation of water is mentioned several times,” it noted.
Furthermore, UFCC also raised concerns about a lack of sufficient board meeting records and questionable financial practices.
“Inefficient operations, incompetent management, irresponsibility, and lack of accountability” are cited as potential reasons why consumers in Cagayan de Oro are at risk of water shortages, the NGO pointed out.
Representing Cagayan de Oro’s water consumers, UFCC reiterated the need for LWUA to investigate COWD promptly and take the required steps to resolve the numerous problems with its administration.
It stressed that water wastage due to flawed systems and mismanagement must be rectified to ensure the continued provision of clean water services to the community.